D.A. Sex Assault Unit to Review LaDucer Case

The criminal investigation into a sexual assault allegation against former Orange County Assistant Sheriff Dennis LaDucer has been turned over to county prosecutors, who will decide whether to file a formal charge against the 30-year lawman.

Two sheriff’s investigators this week concluded their inquiry into the allegations of a fellow department employee, who stated in a sexual harassment lawsuit that LaDucer raped her at his home in 1994. The detectives submitted their findings Friday to prosecutors.

Assistant Dist. Atty. Wallace J. Wade said his agency’s sexual assault unit will review the case, evaluate the need for further investigation and decide whether to file charges. Typically, he said, the submission by investigators suggests that the police agency has found cause to pursue a case.

“Usually, if they bring it over it means they feel they have enough evidence that we should evaluate it for charges,” Wade said. He would not elaborate on the allegations or any other aspects of the case.

LaDucer was fired Aug. 13 by Sheriff Brad Gates after a series of sexual harassment suits alleged that the 52-year-old official barraged female employees with propositions, groping and veiled career threats. The department launched an internal investigation that led to a criminal investigation after the unidentified civilian employee added her rape allegation.

One of LaDucer’s attorneys, Bruce D. Praet, said the transfer of the case to the district attorney’s office may signal only that Gates wants an unbiased review of the investigation into the rape allegation against one of its own.

“They may want to run it past the D.A. to make sure there are no grounds to question their findings that it’s not a valid claim,” Praet said. “They won’t be subjected to claims of bias this way.”

Praet said he would be “absolutely amazed” if prosecutors moved forward with a 2-year-old rape allegation, no physical evidence and the word of an unidentified woman who “brings forward this allegation only at a time when she stands to benefit financially.”

Patrick Thistle, the Los Angeles attorney representing all four of LaDucer’s accusers, could not be reached Friday for comment.

Praet has criticized the sheriff’s department for not handing over the criminal investigation to an outside agency from the start, and he said that will be among the complaints encompassed in a federal lawsuit against the sheriff to be filed next week on LaDucer’s behalf by attorney Jeffrey Epstein.

LaDucer filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court this week against three of his accusers alleging that they are lying to destroy his career and make money.

His suit contends that Sheriff’s Lt. Wendy Costello, office employee Mary Ann Hoyt and Deputy Florence J. Henson have fabricated accounts of lewd and intimidating behavior by LaDucer, their former supervisor and leader of the sprawling agency’s patrol and investigations operations.

The most serious allegations facing LaDucer are the rape accusations made by a civilian employee who filed a “Jane Doe” lawsuit this week in Orange County Superior Court. The woman states in her suit that LaDucer invited her to his home, dragged her up a flight of stairs and forced sex on her in his bedroom.

LaDucer will file a federal suit next week alleging that he was denied due process when he was fired without having access to the accusations and findings against him, his attorneys said. The suit also will argue that LaDucer’s constitutional right against self-incrimination was violated when Gates supervised the criminal investigation and also had access to confidential administrative interviews with LaDucer.

The federal suit also will allege that LaDucer’s right to privacy was violated by Gates’ public announcement of his longtime associate’s firing and the inquiry into sexual harassment claims, attorneys said.